Thought for the Day

Verse 15 - Successful people have one thing in common: a disciplined life. A virtuous woman rises early and makes spiritual and physical preparations for the day. One of the best habits we can develop is the habit of daily prayer and Bible reading, which enables us to draw spiritual strength from the Lord. Often, when I rush into the day and run into problems, it is because I have failed to pray preventative prayers. The Lord once spoke to me that if I prayed about my problems as much as I talked about my problems, I would not even have the problems! Seeking God early equips us to not only hear God's voice and personal direction, but we can also help those we work with. By seeking God first, the virtuous woman is able to provide both spiritual and natural food for her family.

Verse 16 - A virtuous woman is also a capable businesswoman. Running a home is similar to running a business in many aspects, as it takes management skills to take care of the many domestic responsibilities. She executes business negotiations and invests her savings in profitable endeavors. Planning and organizing are both necessary skills to make any enterprise a success, but so is persistence and hard work. Once plans are made, we face the hard part of executing them. Many who are exuberant upon starting a new project lose enthusiasm along the way. One must consider whether one is able to invest the time and energy needed to a launch a new venture and make it profitable without neglecting the regular duties of hospitality at home and ministry to the needs around them, whether in the home or outside of it. "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality" (Romans 12:10-13).

The question of whether a mother should work outside the home has been much debated. It takes hard work and sacrifice to undertake a career in addition to caring for a family and home. Some mothers find it overly burdensome and become resentful. The ideal, especially when children are small, would be for a mother to stay home and rear her children, since that is when they are most impressionable. However, if her husband does not oppose it, and a woman can handle her household responsibilities and an outside job, Scripture certainly does not forbid her from doing so. The important thing is to follow the Lord's plan for one's life and do everything in love. When God is leading us to do something, He will provide everything we need to accomplish it. Like the virtuous woman, we need to "count the cost" before adding to our responsibilities and make sure that whatever we do, it is being done as unto the Lord.